The University of Surrey graduate was not wearing a helmet when he was thrown into a metal pole supporting a snow cannon which was not covered by foam padding.

On Friday (March 14), his funeral was held at the chapel in Taunton School, Somerset, where he used to study.

West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose called for a safety drive as he opened and adjourned the inquest into Mr Owens-Thurston's death on Wednesday (March 12).

Mr Rose urged people heading off on skiing holidays during the Easter break to wear a helmet.

The coroner said the IT worker suffered fractures to his skull "due to a ski accident, where he fell and collided into a snow machine" while skiing down a black run.

"After a fall while skiing he possibly fell head-on into a snow machine. I have given authorisation for the funeral," Mr Rose said. "The deceased was not wearing a helmet. We are coming up soon to the Easter holidays and I would urge anyone to wear a helmet.

"I would also urge the Austrian authorities to put padding on the snow machines."

Despite Mr Owens-Thurston not wearing a helmet, his family believe it would not have made a difference because of the angle of impact.

Speaking to Get Surrey in February, his father Phillip said: "There's an element of risk [in skiing] but what I have said is that it shouldn't be any more risky than it needs to be.

"If you stick a 15ft-long steel bar across a slope in a position that if someone comes down at speed and loses control they will be thrown into it at 50mph, that's not helpful.

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.